Are You Going on Tour?

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

It's three days until 2010 - a year that I am awaiting like no other - and I thought I'd send 2009 out with a bang, contest style.

This is my first (and last, of 2009) CONTEST (many more to come in 2010!) - expect all contests to be quirky - because I love quirks - and here is Andrea's Quirky Contest #1. *Trumpets blare*

The time honored tradition of countdowns easily turns into overkill this time of year, but lists are addictive and it's oh so much fun to review the things you loved about the past year (hopefully glossing over those bits you loathed).

The other great thing about the New Year is predicting what's ahead. Isn't playing fortune-teller always fun?

For this contest I'll be mashing these two ideas together.Top Nine O'Nine (aka Andrea's first blog contest)

The contest: Create a 2010 slogan and post it in the comments section below. Slogans can be silly or serious.

Or, a combination: 2010: The Year Polar Bears Strike BackThe best will be clever, cunning, cataclysmic - you get the idea. I encourage wackiness and snarf-worthiness. Enter as many times as you like, though you can only win once. Bonus points for linking to this contest on your blog!

The prize:

Here come the Top Nine. It's been a great, great year for books (but watch out for 2010 - I think it will only get better!). I'll be awarding prizes for Winner, 1st Runner Up, and 2nd Runner Up. Each winner receives 3 books, a trio from my top 9 books of 2009.* The list is below in alphabetical order by author.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place may pick one book from this list they're itching to read, and I'll send it to get 2010 off to a fantastic reading start! Go, slogans, go. Deadline: What else? Entries accepted until 11:59 p.m. (CST) December 31.

**New twist: Since I'm loving the entries so much - here's an added incentive. If I reach 110 (because ya' know, it' s the '10 that matters!) blog followers by the end of this contest, each winner will receive 2 books from the list!*Disclaimer: Ack!! Picking just 9 books was so hard! So many more I long to add - plus, so many just released books I have yet to read...remorse, remorse!!** I loved Ballad and Shiver, but it didn't seem fair to have both books on the list and I loved Ballad an eency bit more, so it's the book for this list.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

We had to move Christmas. The National Weather Service described travel conditions at the time we were meant to head North for the family as 'life-threatening.' No family, no presents. It started as a terrible disappointment. It could have been a disaster.

But sometimes inconveniences, big and small, can bring to light the best parts of life. Instead of gathering at the traditional time in the traditional place, we cobbled together a small dinner for those of us close enough to meet without risky life and limb. Christmas Up North has been rescheduled for next weekend. Our impromptu Christmas dinner was delightful. Today, Boxing Day, we loafed about, tucked under quilts, nibbling leftovers, until it was time to move the cars because of the Snow Emergency.

*This is not us, but we looked very much like this*

Since this latest storm consisted of not only snow, but also ice, the streets have turned into corridors slicker than skating rinks. It took a group effort to get the car moving, but move it did amid laughter, shouts from the open car door (the windows were frozen shut), and celebratory dancing in the street upon success.

Little victories make the world bright and have made my out-of-the-ordinary Christmas a very nice one indeed.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

It's Christmas Eve and we're snowed in (and will be snowed in for some time - more on that tomorrow), so what better way to while the away the hours than by watching one's favorite TV Christmas Specials! (You thought I'd say reading, didn't you? Okay, you caught me, I'll be reading too. A lot.)

But before reading, I wanted to continue in the vein of favorite holiday wackiness and some of the wackiest wack comes in the form of televised holiday cheer. Some I just can't stomach, but others make me giggle, and still others draw the nostalgic tear.

Good for giggles: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)Stop motion animation? An elf who wants to be dentist? Burl Ives the snowman? And of course the Abominable Snowman? What's not to love??

A Christmas Story (1983)From double-dog dares to the Bumpbus dogs there is too much to love in this movie. But my favorite: Snow Suit Immobilization.

But the special most likely to make me snort eggnog up my nose from laughter:National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

(And I know it's crazy, but I love that song!! Proof that I'm a child of the 80s, no doubt)

And last but not least, nostalgia-filled favorite Christmas special of all time:A Muppet Family Christmas (1987), which contains this unforgettable moment -

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I know that just two posts ago I suggested the darkness of Winter Solstice is something to be treasured rather than feared. Nonetheless I can't claim that the long dark hours of this season don't take their toll. Hence today's post, #2 in the Holiday Extravaganza: Christmas Lights.

Christmas lights make coming home in the dark a little less oppressive. When I walk my dogs in the evening and pass bushes, trees, windows twinkling with an array of colors, or the subtle glow of solitary white lights, I feel much happier.

Whether they be multi-colored casting a candy-hued glow all around the tree,

or the ethereal quality of clear white lights, imparting the magic of the season, in contrast to the fun, celebratory quality of crazy colors.I can even get behind the over-the-top bonanza light displays,

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

For a few days now I've been forecasting Andrea's posts of holiday wacky goodness and now IT'S HERE!!

Today through Christmas Day there will be astonishing lights, sound, sight - all the holiday glitz you can stomach (maybe more if you've been drinking too much nog).

It's kind of a pet peeve of mine that the Sound of Music's "My Favorite Things" has been adopted as a holiday song that plays in the background of malls while you shop. But I've decided to jump on the bandwagon, dedicating these posts to my Favorite Holiday Things.

First up: Fave Holiday Songs

I love holiday soundtracks, but I have a strict rule about not listening to any seasonal songs until we're past Thanksgiving. Hearing "Silver Bells" any sooner than late November is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Music makes my world go round, so limiting the selection here is tough, to say the least. So I've decided to choose one song from Andrea's new: Key Categories of Holiday Music Bliss Out.

Category: Childhood (I listened to this one on my Grandma Opal's record player, over and over and over)

One of the best things about entering the writing world is meeting other writers who really see the world the way you do. Yes, everyone, be very, very afraid. Josh Berk and Kiersten White are geniuses. Soon they will rule the world and I'm hoping they will let me be in their Cabinet, or Inner Circle, or Secret Society - what have you. Here is their amazing contribution to the Holiday Songbook.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Please head over to the Personal Demons blog of LisaDez and give her a virtual high five. She just landed a three-book deal with Tor/MacMillan.

CONGRATS Lisa!!!

I'm so excited for her, not only is she deserving of this incredible success, but as her crit partner *puffs chest with pride* I can tell you this book is fantastic and I can't wait to see it on the shelves.

In the northern reaches of the country that I call home, it's a frequent complaint that the long hours of darkness weigh heavily on us. Dark before work, dark coming home. Shadows dog our steps and send us scurrying to bed at hours that feel much too early.

I'd like to suggest that the Winter Solstice, rather than haunting us, offers a vital clue to our existence. Though welcome, light, sun, energy drive us on relentlessly, push us into our busy lives, our too-full days.

The dark is a call to retreat from the world. We tuck into our houses, curl up in heavy blankets. We long to sleep and the darkness calls us to our beds.The long night isn't something to fear. We rarely take the time to be still, to recuperate, to rest. Perhaps Mother Nature is doing us a favor by wrapping us in night, forcing us to step away from the frenetic pace of life and slumber. Dreaming sweet dreams, becoming anew.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Due to the great success of Unofficial Official Agent Day, the writing world has issued a call to celebrate Editor Appreciation Day. Huzzah!!

I'm delighted to have the opportunity to do wave my pom-poms in celebration of my fabulous editor, or better yet give a super cheer NIGHTSHADE style!Jill has been such a joy to work with. Insightful, considerate and encouraging, she is a brilliant editor. Jill is also a writer who understands the ups and downs of creating a novel. She's compassionate about how deeply tied I am to my story and characters, and I know she loves my them too and wants them to be their absolute best! She's a fantastic person - a blast to chat with and chock full of mad skills when it comes to bringing a writer's vision to life, overcoming all obstacles that arise.

Thanks, Jill, for being my partner and friend in this thrilling journey!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

So after my reflective post of yesterday, I thought we needed to revert to more standard blog fare. I'm working up a series of posts waxing eloquently (not really) upon the things I enjoy about the holiday blitz. We'll start those this weekend, for now - more awesome Twilight spoofage:

Ooh, and big writerly moment. NIGHTSHADE is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Cover still top secret, but that magical pre-order button is there. Plus, it made me giggle that Amazon reminds you that should you order my book, it will not arrive before December 25...

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

In addition to being a writer I teach history at a liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minnesota. I love my job - my classes bring me into contact with brilliant young people (okay now that I've referred to them as 'young people' I feel old) whose questions and ideas broaden my own horizons in fabulous ways.

My husband works for a non-profit organization that assists ex-offenders with reintegration into society. His program in particular mentors young men who are coming out of the maximum security juvenile facility in our state.

We both go to work every day, encounter 17 - 21 year olds, and try to help them find paths to the lives they hope for. But for the circumstances we encounter, he and I might as well be living in different universes. While my students are reading dense academic texts and writing at a post-graduate level, his may or may not be literate and their chances of finding employment as ex-offenders are slim. When we come home at the end of the day with tales from the work trenches, we're both aware that this disparity lays bare an immense, seemingly insoluble problem of 21st century America.Tonight our worlds collided at an amazing, inspiring event that was the culmination of the "Schools to Prisons" class at my college. In this course students build a bridge between the privileged word of private education and the harsh realities of prison, release, and recidivism prevention. The students in this class participate in internships where they work for organizations like my husband's to get a firsthand look at the grassroots programs that attempt to disrupt the cycles of imprisonment and unemployment that plague our country. These students are humble, hard-working and absolutely committed to trying to make a difference in the world. They have the ideas we need to create a better future and the determination to see it through.

The semester has come to a close and tonight reminded me why being a teacher brings me so much joy. Thank you to the next generation, who bring hopes for a better future to life and share it with the world.Next up: Wacky Holiday Post Extravaganza

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

An exciting benchmark in my book's life just occurred: I have a copy of the first pass pages. They are beautiful - the interior design of NIGHTSHADE is unique, striking, and perfect! It makes me feel like:

The further I progress along the road of publishing, the more I realize how much of that world remains a mystery to me. As I peruse my pages, I've become more and more curious about what creative departments at publishing houses are like, how decisions about font, design, page structure are made. And then the Rejectionist pointed me to this video, which explains it all.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

I'm a sucker for romance, trials, and tears. Working through some really heart-wrenching scenes as I revise WOLFSBANE, you'd think I was going through my own break up. I have some of the same songs set on my iPod to replay over and over and over as I write my way through specific events. There are moments when I hear a song and a scene just blossoms in my mind. I've discovered that if I really hang onto that song and drown myself in it, the scene becomes all the more powerful as I'm writing.

Though it also means I cry a lot because IN MY BOOK I HAZ SAD STUFF HAPPENZ. But getting that emotionally invovled in the writing is one of my favorite parts of the craft.

Friday, December 11, 2009

It's Unofficially Official Agent Day! (Thanks to Kody Keplinger for this great concept.)

Today we celebrate all the wonderful work agents do to make writers' dreams jump from author's mind to readers' hands in the form of beautiful books.

I'm thrilled to be represented by the phenomenon that is InkWell Management. My agents Richard Pine and Charlie Olsen are more than superheroes. They are my Mad Men.

Charlie OlsenDear, dear Charlie. I am not a morning person, but THE CALL from Charlie came at 6 a.m. when I was in Seattle at a history conference and it was instantly the BEST MORNING EVER! He drew my little ms out of slushy peril and polished it to a shiny glow. Plus, he loves comics. Epic win.

Richard PineWhen Richard first called to introduce himself I was in Salt Lake City at a history conference (wow, good things happen when I'm out of town. Note to self: must travel more), having just lugged my suitcase in the pouring rain across the University of Utah campus to my uh...spartan little dorm room (it really felt more like a cell and I was wondering whether saving money by staying in the dorms rather than the conference hotel was really worth it).

My phone rang and Richard proceeded to turn my world upside down with compliments and his ever-present, sincere-but-hypnotizing charisma. It no longer mattered that I was stuck in a tiny room, with a scratchy wool blanket, and shower over toilet combo bathroom - everything had new sparkle.

Lyndsey BlessingI haven't had the chance to talk with Lyndsey on the phone yet, but she is my favorite email buddy. Lyndsey works miracles with foreign rights in addition to being an all around lovely person. (*Update: Just this morning Lyndsey sent another great email announcing my book deals in Czech and Slovak!)

Patricia BurkePatricia and I also haven't spoken yet, but we have a constant second hand "I've heard great things about you, I love your work" back and forth via Charlie and Richard. I can't wait to meet Patricia and I already know she's doing amazing things for my books.

The TeamOne of my favorite things about being represented by InkWell is that all my interactions with my agents make it clear that this agency works as a team. I know my manuscripts get multiple reads and that enthusiasm for my work comes not from a single person, but runs throughout the whole group. And an incredible group of talented folk it is! I am the luckiest girl ever :)

Thanks so much to my Mad Men (and Women)! You've got the talent, the style, and the spirit to rock the literary world and you do so every day. I'm so thankful to be a part of it.

I'm counting the days until I come to New York to meet my InkWell family!!

Want to see more agent appreciation and learn about Unofficially Official Agent Appreciation Day? Get thee to Lisa and Laura's blog for a list of all the participating authors.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Yesterday afternoon a band of wintry weather stretching from the tip top of the U.S. down into Iowa careened across our state, leaving a trail of deep drifts and icy roads in its wake.

For those of you in warmer climes, a snow emergency is the city's way of efficiently clearing the roads for drivers by regulating street parking and towing cars like mad. If you (like me) are sadly living without a garage, extreme vigilance is necessary throughout the snow emergency. Should a car be left too long on the wrong side of the street, it will be whisked away to the impound lot. Those collective sobs you hear rising into the skies over the Twin Cities aren't bemoaning the cold, they're realizing they forgot that today is EVEN SIDE plowing day.Despite the lack of shelter for my vehicle, I still like snowy days. Snowy days mean I can bundle up on the couch, still in pajamas, and bond with my lap top with no interruption. Bad weather days are usually good writing days.

I also got a call from amazing Editor Jill letting me know that my first pass pages will arrive tomorrow. I cannot wait to see the typset and design for NIGHTSHADE!

For those of you, who like me, are avoiding the howling winds and building drifts - may you steer clear of spin outs and find toast warmth inside. Or if you're truly lucky, having a magical journey with the spirits of the season.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The weather outside is frightful - we'll have a foot of snow by morning, but I can't be bothered to care because...

NIGHTSHADE and WOLFSBANE sold in the UK!!!I am ecstatic to share the news that my novels' British home will be with the fabulous team at Atom (Little Brown). Atom is the publisher of both the Twilight and House of Night series *happy dancing now ensues* and I am thrilled to be working with such a fantastic house.

Those of you who've followed this blog for a while know that Great Britain is something of a second home to me, so this sale makes my heart sparkle. And to all my friends across the pond, I'm so pleased that NIGHTSHADE will be in your local bookstores!!

Monday, December 7, 2009

If you attend a writers' conference, and I highly recommend that you do, you're bound to hear this word repeated more times than you can count:

PLATFORM

What is a platform? You ask. I certainly did. It turns out that a platform is the base audience a writer creates even before a book is published and, get this, sometimes even before you sign with an agent.Once upon a time an author only really needed a platform for non-fiction (i.e. in my case the fact that I'm a college professor creates a ready-made platform for my academic writing), but today fiction writers are also in need of their own buzz, a presence beyond that on the pages they write.

Don't panic! I know that for we writerly folk this idea is daunting at best, but in today's digital friendly age creating a platform is much, much easier than you'd imagine.

Facebook, Twitter, and blogs I think are the best ways to dip your toes in the platform pool. More intrepid folk might consider starting vlogs (Jackson Pearce is the queen of vlogs). I'm toying with this idea, but have not yet made that plunge. If I do, you'll be the first to know!

You can start small. Believe me, the early days of tweet and blogs can feel pretty lonely. But readerships and followers grow over time, and soon they become a big part of your life...one that needs to be managed so that it doesn't interfere with all that writing that started this platform business in the first place!

I'm sure some of you are thinking - does this platform stuff really matter?

YES.

More than I would have guessed. I've been incredibly fortunate of late to sign with some amazing foreign publishers *waves, blows kisses, Hi Lyndsey!!* and in the offers there have been many mentions of my online presence.

When I first read their comments I had a "whaaaaa???" moment, because unbeknownst to me my blogs and tweets had been followed by some truly fabulous editors and publishers. And it's my impression that my growing platform has had a significant impact on the response of publishing houses to NIGHTSHADE. EPIC WIN!

So don't be shy. The benefit of online platformdom is that it's a great venue for writers - it's all about writing!! Each author has to find the way to the world that best suits them, so test the waters, see what format is the right fit for you. But don't stay hidden in the shadows, let the world see you shine.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

It's a weekend full of happy dancing - to Ma Vie En Rose, of course. I'm thrilled to announce that NIGHTSHADE and WOLFSBANE will be published in France by Gallimard! I'm thrilled to be working with this fantastic publisher, who are also the French publishers of a certain wizardly series that rhymes with Mary Cotter. Thanks for the enthusiasm of Gallimard for the books and to my marvelous agenting team at InkWell!

Am I ecstatic? Mais oui!

If you need me, I'll be dancing to my new favorite song. Bonus: Minnesota pride - Owl City is a local band that's hitting the big time!

Friday, December 4, 2009

I know, I know. Two months ago I ranted about October snow - but I love the shift in seasons when they happen at the appropriate time. Early or late snow freaks me out.

Now that it's December and we're diving toward the Solstice, I'm enjoying the drop in temperatures and the delicate flakes that lazily drift through the air.Winter has another benefit as well: complete wardrobe transformation.

Living in a true four seasons climate means we Northern folk get to emerge from our respective cocoons not one, but four times a year. Winter, spring, summer, fall - each have their own sets of clothes. When the temperature drops I rifle through my closet, discovering velvety corduroys and woolen skirts long neglected through summer and fall. It feels like a shopping spree occurred where I didn't have to spend any money!

As much as I enjoy pleasant weather, I don't think I could sacrifice this seasonal bliss for year round temperature stability. My brother lives in LA (he reads this blog and I'm about to mock him, sorry little bro!) and just sent his Christmas list - which put mine to shame by the way - in which he requested an "LA winter coat."

Guffaw! There is no LA winter. He needs a light jacket, which I believe will contribute much more to style than defense from the elements.As for me I'll be packing up breezy cotton skirts and sheer tops, which I'll stow away until it's time for the next cocoon to break open, welcoming spring rain and warm Zephyr wind. Given that I live in Minnesota, it probably won't happen until May.

But my oh-so-lovely husband just bought me one, and when I insisted it was my Christmas presented he countered: "No, this is your book deal present." (See - there it is again! The book deal is the blob that consumes all other gift options!)

If you don't know what a Droid is, it's this awesome device that is pretty much Motorola's answer to the IPhone. And it is awesome. I am not a gadgety girl, but I love my Droid. I love it because I am a Messy Person.I believe that this inherent messiness is a good thing. So does the New York Times *sticks out tongue at obssessive neat folk* (Don't worry, I still love you strange, organized folk of the world, my husband is one of you. I simply will never understand how you manage to be so neat.)

The Droid is the closet thing in my life I can offer for organization. I thrive in chaos and clutter and me walking through a room seems to have a similar affect to that of a tornado. My desk lives under the constant threat of drowning in papers, books, sticky notes, and pictures. My calendar cannot hope to keep up.

The Droid helps because it's everything in one neat little black box. Plus, it tells me when I'm supposed to be different places...and that is the kind of little helper I need. Though I'm a little afraid that it will become self aware and take over the world, starting with my house.

But it's help has left me with that same old problem. Nothing for the list. Except books of course, there's no end to the books I pine for. So Mom, little bro, & everyone else who's asked me for a list. Just head to the bookstore because and I'll steal a quip from Edward:"Books are my life now."

Though according to LisaDez, none of this is going to be a problem anyway.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thanks so much to fellow Buffy addict, Tricia from Talespinning, for honoring me:Like Tricia I'm going to be a rule contrarian and go 'five by five'; that is, Five Honest Things About Me and Five Bloggers to whom I'll pass on the award.

Hmmm, five honest things...

Well I think it's the most difficult to be honest about those things you're afraid of, so I'll offer five of my true fears, ranging from silly to serious:

1) I cannot tolerate anyone looking over my shoulder. I freeze up and can't do anything until said lurker is gone.

2) I am terrified of crocodiles. For realz. And I live in Minnesota, go figure.

3) I am afraid of mustaches.

4) My dogs turn eight in 2010. I am scared that they will soon be old dogs :(

5) And my biggest fear: that when that biggest of big dreams happens - Nightshade's release date, October 14, 2010 - that no one will like it. (I think all authors share this fear!)

And finally I'd like to dedicate this award to my followers (76! Woo-hoo!) it's so awesome to see you here every day :) And to any lurkers out there, I'm happy to have you here too. Don't be shy, you can come out from behind those bushes if you'd like. I won't bite until we get to know each other better.Biting people: not a fear of mine. Though I'm sure many of you are now afraid of me. Bwaaa-haa-haa.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

There has been such amazing news in the twitosphere (is that a term yet? If not, I call it) about oh-so-exciting film rights deals for fabulous YA authors.Even though the making of said movies lies well in the future, I still am proud to present my own series of previews for movies I will be waiting in line to see on their some-day-hopefully-not-too-far-away release dates.

Wicked LovelyMelissa Marr's fey on the silver screen. I get chills just imagining the possibilities.

The Mortal InstrumentsCassandra Clare's series kept me up all night turning pages. And the thought of Jace in the flesh? Swoon.

ShiverSpeaking of chills. Go werewolves! Maggie Stiefvater's lyrical prose and bittersweet tales of love will make for tear-jerking and spine-tingling goodness.The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Yay for fellow Tenner Kody Keplinger. The film talk compares her story to Juno (which I loved), and hello McG! Woo-hoo Kody! I can't wait for this film!

Beautiful CreaturesFinally, but hopefully only the continuation of more good news to come for the page to screen of YA, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's southern gothic is the buzz around town. This movie is certain to make waves and I think it will be wonderful.

Three cheers for YA domination of Hollywood!!! And a Happy December to you all!

RISE (Nighshade Origins #2)

SNAKEROOT (Nightshade Legacy #1)

INVISIBILITY (co-authored with David Levithan)

Blog Etiquette

My Web Site

My Novels

While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

Non-Fiction Works

About Me

Author of YA/Crossover speculative fiction. Represented by Charlie Olsen and Richard Pine (InkWell Management). I'm originally from the Northwoods of Wisconsin (it's not the Midwest, it's the Canadian Shield) but have recently migrated to Manhattan.
Before I began writing full time, I was a professor of history, and I spend a lot of time thinking about worlds beyond this one. Worlds of the past, worlds yet to come. The first writing projects I undertook were plays performed for our parents by my little brother and myself in our living room. Sometimes these pieces involved puppets made from brown paper bags. More recent WIPs are speculative fiction, YA, and children's literature.